A national study on the quality of life for older people in long-stay care has found widespread differences over aspects of care in nursing homes such as the ratio of qualified staff to patients, access to therapies and physical conditions.
The National Council of Ageing and Older People, which commissioned the report, said that the findings emphasised the importance of improving the quality of life and care of the estimated 20,000 people in long-stay care.
The council's director, Bob Carroll, said: "Standards are very, very varied. While there are examples of really good practice out there, we are concerned about very poor practice."
A main focus of the research, conducted by NUI Galway, involved drawing on the views of residents, their relatives and staff in 550 long-stay settings across the country.
Residents said they wanted residential care that felt like a "home away from home", greater personal input into their care, more opportunities to keep in contact with family and friends and meaningful day-to-day activities that took account of their interests.
A key finding was the desire among many residents for a room of their own and a private place to meet with family or friends.
The research also found significant differences between public and private care. Staffing ratios were higher at public facilities, where the ratio of registered nurses to care assistants was up to three times higher compared to private nursing homes. On the other hand, public settings rarely provided private rooms.
In response to the report's findings, the council has issued a range of recommendations including the development of guidelines to ensure independence-enhancing practices form part of future initiatives aimed at enhancing quality of life in long-stay facilities. Staffing number guidelines should also be introduced, it said.